Southmead Rugby Club are being boosted by some South Pacific magic after signing seven Fijians serving with the British Army.

Five of the new recruits made an instant impact last weekend, helping the second string to a last-gasp 14-13 win against Cleve's third team.

And most of the players were due to line-up again in today's clash with rivals North Bristol.

Southmead already have strong connections with the South Seas island nation thanks to the Naivalurua brothers Joe, Rob, Richard and Pete, whose father Kali was born in Fiji and served in the Army for 22 years.

Joe was killed while on duty in Northern Ireland in 2000 with The Royal Engineers, aged just 24. And a pre-season memorial tournament in his name, staged by Southmead, has always attracted Fijian-dominated Army teams eager to take part.

Rob Naivalurua, Southmead's second-team captain, said: "John Knight, our director of rugby, asked if there was any chance of finding a couple of Fijians to strengthen a few positions.

"We put an invitation out, via my dad, and hoped that through his connections two or three might come along to training, but in the end seven turned up from the Rifles in Chepstow and they all signed. They're serious about playing – they put in orders straightaway for dress shirts and ties."

Naivalurua is keen to stress that Southmead are not being taken over by the newcomers, who include a prop and a No 8 as well as five backs. He added: "If a group of lads from, say, St Mary's or the Dings turned up at training then we would welcome them in exactly the same way.

"They're very humble guys, very modest and typically Fijian... they love playing rugby, playing guitar and singing.

"Our ambition at Southmead is to stay up in the Western Counties North division after working so hard to get there, and we're hoping the guys will provide that little bit of inspiration and the spark we need.

"They're based in Chepstow and are part of the most active unit in the British Army, but if they are posted again to Afghanistan or Iraq then there is potential for a few more to come across and play for us."

Southmead received a further boost this week, with the news that former Scotland and Bristol prop Alan Sharp has returned to help coach the club's forwards.